Music-sheet-guiding mechanism



0. E. PETERSON.

MUSIC SHEET GUIDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IAN- 22. I9I9.

PatentedSept. 6, 1921.

Z'SHEETS-SHEET l.

c. E. PETERSON, MUSIC SHEET GUIDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 19). 1,389,693,. PatentedSept. 6,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

', 1h cnfov cnaus E. PETERSON,

or WORCESTER}.MASSACHUSETTS,' nssrenon. rorvnnson PIANO PLAYER COMPANY,onros'ron. MASSACHUSETTS, A conrona'rron or i .MAISSACHUSETTS."

T all whom it may concern:

Be' it known that I, GLA s E. Pn'rnnson, a citizen of the'United States,residing at Vvorcestenin the county of Worcester and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in aMusic-Sheet-Guiding Mechanism, of which the following, together with theaccompanying drawings, is a Specification.

The object of my present inventionis to provide means for controllingthe movement of aperforated music sheet across the'tracker bar of aplayer piano. This object I accomplish by means of the deviceshereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in'whichh Figure 1 represents a front View of a perforated music sheetwith mechanism for moving the same across the tracker bar,,and alsoillustrating my improved means for controlling the movement of the musicsheet in order to secure. at all times the perfect registration of theperforations in the music sheet with'the perforations in the trackerbar.

Fig. 2 is a planview shown in section on the planeof the broken line2--2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the parts shown in front view inFig. 1. p

Figs; 4, 5, and 6' are detailed detached views of certain portions ofthe mechanisms.

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar'parts in the differentfigures. I h

' Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a rectangularframework in which are journaled a delivery spool 2 and areceiving'spool 3, carrying a perforated music sheet 4 which is movedacross a perforated tracker bar 5 in the usual and well known manner bythe rotative movement of the sheet carrying spools, 2 and 3. Theoperat-. ing mechanism for rotating the music spools 2 and 3, whileforming no part of my pres ent inventionymay bebriefly described asfollows J ournaled in a framework 6, attached to the rectangular. frame1, is a driving shaft 7,.carrying' at one end'a sprocket wheel 8" bywhich the shaft 7 is driven through a chain connection with. a motor,not shown, in the usual and well known manner in instruments of thisclass. The driving shaft 7 carries upon its opposite end a pinion 9engaging a gear 10 on the shaft of'the receiving spool 3. The pinion 9has a spline connection with the shaft 7 and the hub of the pinioncarries a short stud '11. The hub Specification of Letters Patent.

is. slidable upon the shaft n o y musrc-snnn'r-enmme MECHANISM. f

' Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

Application filed January 22,1919. Serial No." 272,506.

of the pinion has a peripheral groove 12 and 7 by means of a .lever 13carrying a stud which enters the groove J 12. Theleve'r 13 ispivoted'at13 Fig.1, in the, framework of the machine and is manuallyoperated to slide the pinion 9 on the shaft 7 into and out of engagementwith'the gear-10. ;When thelpinion 9 is moved out of engagement with thegear 10, the connection between thedriving. shaft and the receivingspool 3 is broken and the stud 11 is moved into engagement with a stud14 carried in the sideof a sprocket wheel 15 held from longitudinalmovement on the shaft, '7, but free to rotate thereon. The sprocketwheel 15 has a chain connection 16 with a similar sprocket wheel 17 onthe shaft 18 of the delivery spool 2. When the pinion 9 is disengagedfrom the gear 10 the stud 14 is brought-into the path of the stud 11cans-'' motion to be imparted to the sprocket wheel 15, and through thechain connection and sprocket 17 to the delivery spool 2, rotating thelatter in the opposite direction from the rotation of the receivingspool 3. in order to effect the rewinding of the music sheet. All theabove described mechanism is substantially like that now in common usein the spool driving mechanisms of'player pianos, and its use andconstruction-'will 'be well understood by those familiar with theoperation of player pianos.

In order to control themovement'of the music sheet in its passage. overthe perforated tracker bar and to insure the perfect registration of itsperforations with the openings in the tracker bar, I have intro-Q ducedmechanically operating devices which form the subject of my presentimprovement. Arranged immediately above the tracker bar 5 and inposition to contact with the edges of the .perforated music sheet 4 aretwo guide plates 19 and 20, Fig. 2. The plates 19 and 20 are carried .onthe free ends of levers 21 and 22 pivoted at theiropposite ends tobrackets 28 attached to thefframework of the instrument. Pivoted to thebrackets 23 are levers 24 and 25'.- The free ends of the levers 21 and24 and 22 and 25 are connected together by an adjusting mechanism, whichenables the distance between the ends of the levers to be increased ordiminished,for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.

The adjustin mechanism consists of the wires 26 and 2?, one of which-isprovided spring 52 against the with a right hand screwthread and theother with a left hand screwthread, said wires being engaged by ascrewthreaded nut 28, preferably provided with a milled edge 29. Thelever 24 is connected by awire 30 with the upper end of a lever 31 andthe lever 25 is connected by a wire 32 with the lever '31;

Midway between-the connections of the wires 30 and 32 with the lever ,31the lever is pivotally connected to anarm 33 which is rigidly attachedto a lever 34. The lever 34 is pivot-ally supported at its lower end at35- to .a fixed arm 36 projecting from, the frameworkof the apparatus.The upper end of the lever 34 is bifurcated and inc-loses one end of ashaft '37. I

The shaft 37 carries at one end a friction disk 38 mounted between agear 39 and a disk 40, with its periphery spaced a short distance fromeach. The shaft 37 is provided at its opposite end with a pinion 41which engages a rack 42 sliding in ways-43l The gear 39 and disk 40 areattached to a shaft 44, at right angles to the shaft 37 and immediatelyabove it. The gear 39 is located directly over the gear.10 and, duringthe playing of the instrument the gear 39, as well as the gear 10 are inengagement with the pinion 9, causing the shaft 44, gear 39 and disk 40to rotate in the opposite direction to the gear 10. I

The rack 42- carries an arm 45. connected 46 with an arm 47 attached toby a link shaft 48. The shaft 48 is jonrnaled in brackets 49 and 50,Fig. 6, supported. by the framework of the machine. The shaft 48 carriesan arm 5].which bears against the end of the shaft 18 and conveys to theshaft the pressure of a'blade spring 52. The blade spring '52. issupported by theframework of the apparatus and its pressure against thearm 51 may be increased or diminished by means of the adjusting screw53, Fig. 5, in order that the pressure of the shaft 18 maycounterbalance the pressure of a spiral spring'54, Figs. 1 and 3,inclosed in a casing and applied to force the spool 2 in opposition tothe pressure of thespring 52. p,

The shaft 18 carries a friction wheel .57 against which a brake lever58is pressed by a spring 59. The brake lever .58 imparts suliicientfriction to the wheel 57 to prevent the too free rotation of the spool 2as the perforated music sheet is being drawn off. When the lever 13 isrocked by the operator to accomplish the rewinding of the music sheet,its upper and cam shaped end .60 is carried beneath the end of the brakelever, thereby lifting it from the wheel 57 and permitting the freerotation. of the delivery spool. 2. The lever 31 which is pivoted uponthe arm 33 extends downward and rearward and is pivotally connected atits lower end by means of a link 61 with the lever 13, so that as therewind lever 13 is moved. in the direction of the arrow a, the lever31.,will be rockedon its pivotal connection, with the arm 33, to mov thewire 30 toward the left, Fig. 1, and to move the wire 32 towardtheright.The above described movement of the wires 30 and 32 through ",heirconnection with the guide plates 19 and 20 will cause each of the latterto be moved away from the edges of the music sheet. The plates 19 and 20will therefore be moved out of contact with the music sheet during therewinding of the latter. \Vhen the lever. 13 is, reversed for theplaying of a selectionthepinion 9 will be carried into engagement withthe gear 10, thereby driving the receiving spool 3, and also with thegear 39, causingthe rotation of the shaft 44 and rotating the gear 39and disk 40, on opposite sides of the friction disk 38, and againbringing the plates 19 and 20 into their normal position in contact withthe edgesof themusic sheet.

The operation of the apparatus during the playing of a selection is asfollows :-Any deflection of the music sheet toward the left, forexample, will move the guide plate 19, and through its adjustableconnection with the lever24 will draw the wire 30 toward the left,drawing the lever 34, shaft 37, and friction disk 38 into contact withthe gear 39. The deflection of the music sheet toward the right will inlike manner act upon the guide plate 20, moving the wire 32 toward theright, and carrying the friction disk 38 into contact with the disk 40.The disk 38 will thus be rotated in one direction by the gear 39, and inthe opposite direction by the disk 40, and the rotation of the disk 38and shaft 37 will rotate the pinion 41 and move the rack 42 to the rightor left as the case may be. The movement of the rack 42 to the right orleft will rock the shaft 48 to carry the arm. 51 toward or away from theend of the shaft 18. If the arm 51 is moved away from the end of theshaft 18 the latter will be relieved from the pressure of the spring 52,allowing the spring 54 to move the music spool to the right. while themovement of the arm 51 in the opposite direction will crowd the musicspool 2 to the left. After the selection has been played and the lever13 moved in the direction of the arrow (4, Fig. 1, the shaft 44 willbedisconnected from the driving mechanism and the plates 19 and 20 willbe separated and moved out of contact with the edges of the music sheetduring its rewinding. I

.The above described mechanism for controlling the movement of the musicsheet as it passes over the tracked bar involves no change in the usualmechanism now employed in actuating the receiving spool during theplaying of a selection, or in actument of the tracker bar in order tomaintain theprope r relation of one to the other.

I therefore do not wish to confine myself to the movementt'of thedelivery spool. The apparatusembodying my present invention is extremelysensitive, the only pressure against the edgeof the music sheet is thatrequired to move the friction disk 3r to the right or left, a shortdistance to bring its periphery into contact with either the gear 39 orthe disk 40 and the leverage exerted by the arm 47 reduces theresistance to the movement of the rack 42, thereby enabling the spool 2to be moved by a slight force applied through'the friction disk 38.

The connection of the plates 19 and 20 with the rewinding mechanism,whereby the guide plates 19 and 20 are moved out of contact with themusicisheet during the rewinding, so far as I am aware, is broadly new.

I claim:

I. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with arotatable delivery spool longitudinally adjustable in its bearings, atracker bar and means for moving a music sheet from said delivery spoolover the tracker bar, of a rocking shaft journaled transversely to theaxis of said delivery spool, an arm carried by said rocking shaftbearing against said delivery spool to move 'it in one direction, aspring applied to the delivery'spool to move it in the oppositedirection,and a second spring applied to said arm to press it toward thedelivery spool, and means controlled by the lateral deflection of themusic sheet from its normal'path over the tracker bar-for rocking saidshaft.

2. In a mechanism of the class described,

- the combinationwith a rotatable delivery spool longitudinallyadjustable in its bearings, a trackerbar and means for moving a musicsheet from said delivery spool over the tracker bar, of a rocking shaftjournaled transversely to the axis of said delivery spool, an

arm carried by said rocking shaft and bearing against said deliveryspool to move it in one direction, a spring applied to the deliveryspool to move it in the opposite direction, a second spring applied tothe delivery arm to press it toward the delivery spool, means forequalizing the tension of said springs, and frictional means forimparting rotation to said transverse shaft, controlled by thedeflection of the music sheet from its normal path over the tracker bar,7

3. In a mechanism of the class described,

the combination with a rotatable delivery the tracker bar, itisjob spoollongitudinally adjustable "in its bearings, of means for controlling,the endwise movement of said delivery spool, comprlsing a shaftlocatedtransversely to the axis of the delivery spool, a friction wheel mountedon one end of said shaft, frictional driving members on opposite sidesof said friction wheel, a pinion mounted on the. opposite end of saidshaft, a slidable rack engaged by said pinion, a rocking shaft actuatedby the sliding movement of said rack, an arm carried by said rockingshaft applied to move the delivery spool in one direction, a spring forreversingthe movement of the delivery spool, and" a second springappliedto said arm, and means for adjusting'the tension of said second spring.

4:. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with adelivery spool carrying a music sheet, a takeup spool and a tracker bar,of a 'drivingshaft, rewinding clutch connection, a gear carried by thetakeup spool engaging said. sliding pinion, a

shaft parallel with said driving shaft, -a gear on said shaft inengagement with said slidable'pinion and forming a frictional drivingmember, a disk on said shaft forming a second frictional driving member,a friction wheel j ournaled between said driving members and normallyspaced therefrom, means controlled by the lateral deflection of themusic sheet from itsnormal path over the tracker bar for moving saidfriction wheel into contact with one or the other of said drivingmembers, and means for simultaneously shifting said clutch and pinionout of engagement with the takeup roll and said frictional drivingmembers and into engagement with said rewinding mechanism.

5. The combination with a delivery'spool carrying a music sheet, atracker bar, a takeup roll, means for rotating the takeup roll to movethe music sheet over the tracker bar, of guide plates on the oppositesides of the music sheet, means for adjusting the position of eachguide-plate relatively to the normal path of the music sheet, comprisinga swinging lever carrying a guide plate, a second parallel swinginglever operatively connected with mechanism for controlling the path ofthe music sheet, and means for'adjusting the space between said levers.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the-combination with a trackerbar, a music sheet and means for moving the music sheet over the trackerbar, of a pair of levers on free ends o't'each pair of levers, a guideplate carried by one of the levers of each pair in contact with theedges of theniusic sheet, a mechanism controlling the movement of themusic sheet over the tracker bar, and a connection between the otherlever of each pair of levers and said controlling mechanism.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a trackerbar, means for moving the music sheet over the tracker bar, mechanismfor controlling the path of the music sheet over the tracker bar, com-.

.rewinding mechanism,

named lever, a'pair of swinging guide plates contacting with the edgesof the music sheet, a link connecting each of said guide plates withsaid second lever on opposite sides of its pivotalconnection' with saidfirst named lever. I a

9. In a mechanism of the class described, a music sheet controllingmechanism, comprising a pair of guide plates cont-acting with the edgesof a music sheet, a pivoted lever, a connection between one of saidguide plates and said pivoted lever on one side of its pivot, aconnection between the other guide plate and said pivoted lever on theotherside of its pivot, a music sheet anda connection between saidrewinding mechanism and said pivoted lever, whereby said pivoted leveris rocked when the rewinding mechanism 'is brought into action toseparate the guide plates from the music sheet.

Dated this seventeenth day of January,

CLAUS E. PETERSON. Witnesses: c

PENELOPE CoMBERBAoH, NELLIE WHALEN.

